Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-03-20
CHAPTER X.


II was a rainy day. Smoke was Sullenly
making its way ont of the stone house chin
nev. like a boy sent to school against MS
will.
A wear has passed since the close Of the
last chapter. Not much had happened to
our people in that wear. Yet it had been
enough to change the destiny OF some OF
them6or life. II had brought poverty to
the stone house. The death OF Col. Car
stone revealed the fact that the friend who
had invested his fortune for him had heen
false to the trust. Not enough remained
to give bread to the children.
Shirley was the head Of the family.
From her mother down To the 3-vcar-OId
Harry all leaned upon her, and looked to
her to tell them what TO do next.
What then? Shirley's soul had been
full to Overlooking of her own thoughts
and hopes. Now she put her thoughts and
in a corner and began to think and hope
for other people.
The false friends investments had swal'
lowed nearly all. Even the mill and the
farm had to 90. Interest had been paid
regularly during the ColOnel's lifetime, so
that he had no knowledge Of the state his
affairs were in. There were debts in many
directions too. The old family lawyer
was able 10 keep only the stone house for
the C~arstoneS. 4 heavy debt hung over
even that. This was the condition OF
things.
Somebody had 10 90 IN work.
''Well. said Kate TriDgle. the old maid,
who always carried a black basket with q
flaming lid on each side. them CarStore
voung ones amt no better than other
folks children, reckcu they'll find ont
workin' folks v~ictuals amt all white
bread now. They'll have To break MP.
Them biggest ones is old enough to do
chores for their board"
Must the family in the stone house he
scattered? It was enough to make the
generations Of CarstOneS that had been
horn and lived and died there urn over in
their graves.
Shirley was n dreamer, and intensely i'm
aCinative. This is to he remembered in
tracing the change her life took on ut this
time. and the history of it afterward. Tho
story Of lofty ideas and heroic action made
ALWAYS an impression on her mind that
held like iron. Rpvnnd a dOubt the
poetry. the history and drama that George
Morrison read to her had much to do with
shaping her life. Following sages and
GONE before, she climbed the
heights Of generous and daring thought,
murmuring ever more ~ her own soul.
such thoughts I will think too" Did
she hear of great and noble deed, her heart
throbbed quicker and her eyes grew dewv
with svmpathy. and she uncnnsciOuSly
said, such deeds I, too, will do when the
time comes
Nav. she went q Step farther. bordering
rs she did still the old question she had
asked her papa in childhood. HAS a girl
rs much sense rs a hoy? She answered it
10 herself rs she grew Older. saving with
the deem. wise conclusion Of unSpoiled girl
hood, ''What strong. heroic men have
done. strong. heroic women can do.
She had said she would he wise and
steadfAt when'the time came that demand
ed strength and wisdom. Was the time
ripe? She had dreamed of Shining occasion
for herOism. Wa it { come nov in this
Sorrowful, wholly unlocked for way?
Above all, and after all her dreams, was it
in SuCh poor, commonplace guiSe that her
occasion presented itself At last? That was
the most disheartcning Of ANYTHING. All
who are Young, aspiring and human must
have felt the same. She did not doubt her
own powers. She had the faith in herself
that comes Of consciousness of strength.
II Was not vanity. II was something very
different. The two wiseSt men she knew
had infinite faith in her, and had infinite
belief in the strength of n good woman.
They were her father and her teacher. In
these DAYS Of trial her mind ran continually
on that beloved teacher, the things he had
told her, the brave, sweet wisdom he had
spoken.
Ont of the beautiful past his voice said
to her now:
"ReeOcile yourself to the invitable.
"A really great soul is great also in lit
tie things. Il il is not to be our lot to fill
grand requirements in a grand way. If
ever there comes q clashing of forces in
your mind, Shirley, 50 that you Cannot
seem TO know what is hest, remember this:
Do the duty that lies nearest you. That
will surely lead you into the light. And
never lose cOurage-never give up
The SorrOwfnl winter crept by with
leaden feet 1t required all Shirley's time
and faculties TO get the tangled thread of
the CarstOne fortunes Strengthened out A
new trouble faced her, one that she had
least ofall expected. Her mother gradually
sank into a confirmed invalid. 1t was
worse than that. Ii was about rs bad as
it could be, in fact. She became a
hypochOndriac. SbHley's mother was not
one of the CarstOne sort. She was OF the
million and one members of the female sex
who are put in to I'll up, of whom We say
she is a good, sweet woman, aud dismiss